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Man, 24, to stand trial at High Court for penetrating girl, 5

December 4, 2018

By Yusufu S. Bangura

Magistrate Abdul Sheriff Monday committed a sexual penetration matter involing one Juma Jalloh, 24, to the High Court for trial after four prosecution witnesses testified against him for the offense of sexual penetration.

The accused person had been before Magistrate Sheriff on a preliminary investigation for allegedly penetrating a child, contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act No.12 of 2012.

Police Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Moses Moore, had told the court that the accused person had sexual intercourse with the five-year-old girl on Tuesday, 12th June 2018, at Kroo Bay in Freetown.

While committing the matter to the High Court, Magistrate Sheriff said: “Having gone through the evidence so far adduced in the preliminary investigations, I am satisfied that the accused person has a case to answer. I therefore commit this matter to the High Court of justice for further trial.”

Earlier in her testimony, the victim recognised the accused and recalled on the day of the alleged incident.

She narrated that the accused met her playing together with her friends at the Kroobay field.

She told the court that the accused asked her to follow him so that he could buy her biscuit, adding that after the accused bought the biscuit, he took her to a certain bathroom where he had sexual intercourse with her.

The victim narrated that after the forceful intercourse, she felt severe pain and cried for help, adding that a certain boy alerted her mother.

She said the accused escaped when her mother arrived at the scene.

The victim added that the matter was reported at the Central Police Station, where she was issued with a medical report form.

She said that they went to the Rainbow Centre at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) for treatment and returned to the police station to make a statement.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Sheriff ordered that the accused be remanded until the commencement of the trial in the High Court.